Happy New Year from Rodney and Roshelle...

With 2013 just a memory now, this is what our family has to look back on…

Places we went: 

We spent some of spring break in Colorado skiing Wolf Creek.  We took our friend Galen Yoder with us and ran into the Todd and Dana Smith on the slopes also.  The weather and snow were perfect—great skiing, as always.  Wolf Creek has yet to disappoint us.

Skiing Wolf Creek-- good times!

Rayne at the lake over the
4th of July with the Gouchers

Over the 4^th of July, we went to Steve and Lisa’s place in Texas  and spent a couple days on the lake, which were our only lake days for the year.  I hope the drought is over and we can get enough moisture soon to fill our lakes again.

Steer wrestling was
our favorite event

Just before school started, we spent a week in Colorado, Wyoming, and Kansas.  We set out for the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo and saw 3 rodeos, the parade, and a Luke Bryan concert (in the rain).  The girls loved every minute of it and want to go back for the whole week this year.  We met one of my oldest friends, Nancy, for lunch in Denver both coming and going (once at Casa Bonita) and went out to Evergreen to spend an afternoon with Rodney’s cousin John and his wife Dawn.  On the way home, we stayed a couple nights in Kansas with Lee, our harvester for so many years.  He’s like family to us and since we sold the farm and changed our lives, we have missed out on our harvest time with him and his crew.  Every time I think about this I just want to boohoo, so moving on…  While there, the girls played music with Lee and his neighbor, they learned to ride dirt bikes, they swam in a pond with a huge slide built on one side of the shore, and of course, they shot things.  Big thanks for Kristi (Rodney’s sister in Dodge City) for giving us a bed on the way; it’s nice to wake up with 4-5 hours behind you already when traveling.

Kate, (Lee's daughter) Rosalind and Regan coming down the slide at the pond

All three girls learned to ride dirt bikes this summer.  Rayne even had one on her Christmas list.

What’s new with….

Rodney—He spent more time riding motorcycles with my dad and my brother this year.  He’s riding a Harley now- a black 2012 street glider.  And quite simply, he’s loving it.  I’m glad, too.  Those guys work hard and need some time to get away and do what they like to do.  Granted, riding isn’t my favorite thing; I can do it for a few hours at a time when it’s warm… really warm, but he doesn’t need me to have a good time.  Rodney still enjoys his work in the oilfield and doesn’t miss the farming. 

Wayne, Dad and Rodney getting ready for a long weekend ride

Rosalind—She now has braces like Regan.  Just yesterday the dentist removed her palate expanders (upper and lower) and she can talk again.  Actually, it must not have been too terrible as she made Western Oklahoma honor choir when the tryouts were just 3 days after getting her braces and expanders.  Her musical talent is starting to shine.  She’s still in piano lessons and is a little songbird.  For Christmas, Rodney and I bought the girls a keyboard workstation, an amplifier, microphones, and an interface (piece of hardware that mixes and records).  The possibilities are endless with this equipment… definitely something they will use a lot and won’t ever outgrow.  Rosalind just turned 14 this week and is an 8^th grader.  She’s playing basketball and earned a starting position on the junior high team.  We’re very proud of this girl.

Regan and Rosalind

Regan—Bless her heart, she turned 16 this summer and loves driving her blue pickup-truck everywhere and anywhere.  Like all teenagers, she’s growing and maturing and learning life lessons—some are easy where others have been quite life-altering experiences.  Going into the 11^th grade, she set her mind to giving her best effort to her school work and to making the most of her two years left in high school.  She took the ACT for the first time and scored well.  Her musical ability is truly a gift from God, and at this point she’s thinking of pursuing some form of music after graduation.  When she’s singing and playing her guitar, I am so humbled; it makes my heart happy.  She is so much like me that it is scary.  Actually, she’s a much better version of my young-self.  Still, I wish I could protect her from herself until she gets her feet under her and the world by the tail.

Rayne Elise 

Rayne—Her biggest change this year is being at school with the rest of us.  She is 12 years old and in the 7^th grade; and she is loving it at CBA.  Rayne’s playing a little basketball, taking piano lessons, and making friends with everyone at school… 11^th graders, 12^th graders… pretty much everyone.  She picked the flute this year for band and loves it.  She whistles all the time… to the point of being annoying with it sometimes.  She likes to sing, to laugh, to be involved with what’s going on.  She has a fashion sense that is very different from most.  She has a lot of confidence and pretty much doesn’t have a bad day.  She smiles all the time; she is the bright spot in my day, and I don’t think I’m the only one who feels like this.  She is definitely one of a kind.

Backsplash this fall brings
our remodel full circle

Roshelle—Me?  I’m into my second year teaching high school English at CBA, and just as I predicted, it is much easier.  I’m still tweaking and re-evaluating my plans and procedures and policies, but really, do we ever stop doing that?  I hope not, for when I do get to that point, I know I’ll be done.    But really what’s new with me?  I do the same routine every day, except most Saturdays…  I get in the car and drive to Corn.  I have three daughters, so I say the same things day after day… Do you have homework? Who needs a shower? Whose stuff is in the washer? Get everything out of the back seat (of the car).... etc.  So, after racking my brain to find something new, I came up with—backsplash.  I know, right?  But, you see, this IS a BIG DEAL because it means that my house has come full circle.  The day after we took possession of our house in October of 2005, I tore the canary yellow formica off the backsplash in the kitchen, and it has been ugly, unfinished sheetrock, dating back to the early days of sheetrock (just after plaster and lathe) with big tears in the paper and splotchy, hard glue residue, and holes the size my fist would fit through.  Yes, in other words, it’s been lovely to look at for 8 long years.  But this fall, beautiful glass subway tile in the color rust with hand chipped edges was laid, and I couldn’t be happier. 

Where do we go from here? 

Forward.  Not much will change this year, but next year (2015) will be a completely different story.  I like my family how it is right now… intact.  Under my roof where I (actually, we) call the shots.  I’m not looking forward to having a college student in ‘15.  I think I’ll just bask in the moment and savor each day I have left.  God has been so faithful and I have no fear.  

Missing out...

I've been thinking lately about my generation and that of my kids.  I have known for a long time that I would not have wanted to deal with the social media, smartphones, and the internet in general as a teen.  I probably couldn't have handled it either.  Most teens can't.  If you believe your child is any different, look through his phone and social media accounts- unexpectedly and often just to prove yourself right.  But that's not really where I want to go with this entry.

I've been making a mental list of things that my children won't get to experience due to changing times.  Yesterday, I asked my family its opinion, and with that I decided to share it and give you something to ponder. 

They won't get the thrill of sitting next to their boyfriend on the bench seat of his pickup.  Most all vehicles now have consoles.  I rode next to my hubby for years even after we were married.

They won't know the fun and freedom of dragging main with a carload of friends meeting 20 other carloads of "friends" after school or on a Friday night.  Eventually that would lead to everyone parking in a lot and chatting together.  Sometimes it led to bonfires on country roads.

They won't know the thrill of being asked to partner with a boy on a couples' skate.

They won't ever know the freedom of going off to college without the safety net of Google maps or a phone in the car- just in case. 

They won't know the freedom of being able to say something or do something that won't forever be recorded on a smartphone or an iPod or a computer somewhere.  I don't know about you, but I did and said plenty of stupid things I regret.  I'm thankful to have done them in "private" without the world watching.  Growing up with the world watching is almost like being a celebrity.  Teens think they want this, but really, they don't. 

Sure, there are plenty of other things none of us will miss and they won't ever have to deal with...

They won't have the hassle of cassette tapes and Walkman batteries. 

They won't know what it's like to type an 8 page research paper on a typewriter.

I'm sure you are making a mental list of things you would add to this already.

As a 40 year old mom, the only thing I can say that would have been amazing to have as a teen that my kids have today, is to have had an iPod with an iTunes library of my favorite music.  What I would have given for that. 

Change is inevitable, and I cannot image being a teen today with all the pressures they have on them.  It's amazing that they have any meaningful relationships with their 15 second attention spans and insatiable need to be entertained, but I'm sure they will figure it out just like we did.... probably against our parents' beliefs that we could get it done either.





 

Not so quiet week on the homefront...

More attention than needed in my small corner of the world with buildings exploding, prisoners escaping, schools being locked down and human remains found in the bottom of a lake that we like to enjoy...

It started last week with the breaking news that two cars were pulled from Foss Lake just off the boat ramp at the marina.  Each car had three people in it when it sank to the bottom of the lake.  Missing persons from 40-60 YEARS ago are who the authorities believe perished there.  Incredible story and much needed closure for some families.  I wonder if they will take their sonar equipment to other lakes around the state.  This lake is about 33 miles from my house, and we have spent many hours on this body of water over the years.  See link:
Oklahoma Lake Bodies: Diver, trooper recount discovery

The next day, about 1.5 miles from my house, Danlin Industries' headquarters catches on fire and explodes and explodes and explodes.... for hours.  Danlin is a producer of various chemicals for the oilfield, and their chemical lab was right here in Thomas.  This was shocking news for the Floyd families and the employees.  I received a text at 9:20 pm from one of the family members saying, "Please pray- the main building for Danlin is on fire.  Doesn't look good."  What an ordeal.  A couple hours later we decided to drive about 1.5 miles straight west of our house and sit on a hill a mile south of the site.  We were worried about the wind shifting and trying to decide if we needed to make plans to be evacuated by the authorities.  Praise God that the wind stayed low and blowing away from our little town.  My heart breaks for this family as they struggle to sort this out and carry on.  Their tenacity encourages me.  "Floyds are tough."  They are working hard at juggling everything that's being throw at them right now.  Plans are to rebuild as soon as possible.  See link:
Huge blaze erupts at Oklahoma chemical plant

Then, today.  Today is the least impressive of the three incidents that round out my week, but another first for me.  Just before school let out today, our administration notified us that we were on lock down per Weatherford PD.  Apparently some inmates being transferred along I-40 escaped and their location was unknown as a door to door search was going on.  It was really pretty uneventful, but we complied and waited it out, which wasn't very long- maybe 30-40 minutes before we were released to go home.  I had planned to stop and do a bit of shopping in Weatherford on my way home but decided against it and went straight through town and home.  My school is 10 miles south of Weatherford and a couple west. See link:
Eight prisoners being transferred escape

Pretty exciting stuff in my sleepy little corner of the world.

Knocking out a few items on my "to do" list...

     Summer vacation is exactly half over.  This saddens me as I love my summers, and my self-made honey-do-it-myself-list is not half finished.  And we have two other very large projects looming that aren't on the "list", too.  But, you know what?  That's okay.  Let me show you what I've been up to since pictures are so much more interesting than my rambling words...

 Rodney finally tore out the ugly Spirea bushes that just never looked good in the 7 1/2 years we've lived here, leaving the ugly rusted propane tank exposed.

  The family worked hard one Sunday and installed metal edging & thick black plastic and scooped pea gravel from the swing set box.  Soon I painted the tank,  and then Rodney dug holes for me and I planted Photina bushes.  No, they are not spaced evenly... the middle one had to move to the left a bit because there's a concrete slab buried about 8 inches in the dirt that ends in the center of where it should be placed.  Not to worry... the bushes will fill in and it will be hardly noticeable in a few short years.

      

         I hosted my bunco group this month- so that means I also cleaned my house.  Top to bottom, basically by myself... I fired our maids. I already have a new service hired for the school year.  I also recovered and painted my card table and chairs.  Yes, I'm a Pinterest addict.  It looks fabulous, I agree, but it was some kind of work.  Whew.  Who knew?  My bunco girls were like, "I'll bring my old brown one to you so you can do mine..." and I'm like, "No, you can't afford me."  Really, they need to do it themselves.... it'll be fun.  The fun part is picking out the material and paint.  Beyond that it feels something like work.

  

                I also hung my mantle over my fireplace and shopped for décor to go with it.  I rearranged my bookshelves, too.  I'm very pleased with my hearth. 

 I'm in the process of painting my eves and facia boards.  I don't know what kind of drugs I was taking last year when I thought I wanted red eves, but I don't.  They're horrible.  Brown is much, much better.  (So, if you need barn red paint, I have 4 gallons...)  One side of the house is done, three more to go.  If the wind would quit blowing for days on end, I might get finished. 

*I know, it's not even blowing 10 mph right now...  shhhh.

 

    They dug a fire pit and we've roasted many marshmallows on it this month.  We've also burned boxes and boxes of old tax papers in it.  Dual purpose... enjoyment and knocking another item off my list.  (I need to paint those doors on that shed... it's on my list; maybe I should paint them barn red... hmmm)

 

    One evening when Rodney and I were burning the contents of 2001 and 2002, he remarked how quickly everything came back to him about that moment in time... things he had forgotten, and now it's gone.  A year relived in about 10 minutes and then gone forever other than our memories.... 

*I really thought he was an elephant... I didn't know he ever forgot ANYTHING.

                                              Ah, May brought the joy-less-ness of pulling rye.  But here's a tiny speck of joy... actually five of them that I found in the wheat fields one day.

   Here's another view of my mantle... and my new print of

Regan and her guitar.  I love it.

 

Maybe I'll get so much more done before school starts that I can share another picture blog.  I have a few half done projects waiting... maybe you'll get to see them at completion.

 

Home. Alone???

          I am alone and have been most of the day.  Granted, I was at school working in my room and there were actually other people in the building... the drivers' ed. kids, some staff and the supt.  But for the most part it was quiet except when the upcoming sophomore boys taking driving classes were given a break and came down the hall to see if I was actually in my room since the door was open and the light was on.  They giggle like a bunch of girls.  Back to me being alone... It's a strange feeling coming from constant chatter and bustling teens.  Even my own girls deserted me for a day home alone without mom or instructions.  Since I've been home this evening,  the rest of my girls have left for greener pastures.  Literally.  They are outside riding the gator in the grass on our 10 acres or down at my brother's.  I'm not quite sure what to do with myself.  The thing is, where do I begin?  I haven't done my laundry in 4-5 weeks.  Yes, seriously.  Rodney told me last weekend that it looked like we were sorting our clothes in our room... not like for doing laundry but like emptying the closets and drawers and sorting everything we own.  Sigh.  It started with a broken washing machine about a month ago during banquet planning.  And then it rolled into the end of school rush that has me busy every waking minute.  But ah, banquet planning... yes.  It felt like planning a wedding for about 100 in a two weeks time on a tight budget.  And making it look fabulous.  Honestly, that's the only way I know how to roll.  I'm beginning to truly see the weakness in that.  Anyway, banquet was amazing and the students loved it.  Win!  Here is a link to my friend's blog who posted lots of pictures if you're interested in our curious night.  Lilibeth's Keeping Up blog   
          What's in store for me this summer?  For school, I need to check with ACSI on my certification with them.  I'm sure I have something to read and/or watch and/or write or all of the above.  I have a huge reading list of novels I want to add to my required reading in my English classes.  I must finish the yearbook in the next 30 days.  At home, I plan to paint my eves and fascia boards on the house along with a couple benches, shed doors and probably the propane tank.  I need to finish by backsplashes and deal with my showers.  Then there's all the stuff on Pinterest that I want to try.  Priorities first, I'm afraid.
          We aren't planning on much traveling this summer although we are going to Cheyenne Frontier Days in July.  It started with Rodney and me talking to the girls about us wanting to take them to Disney World.  Pretty soon, big fat crocodile tears start rolling down Regan's face.  "What's wrong?" I ask her.  She tells us that she doesn't want to go spend a WEEK at an amusement park.  In disbelief, we try to encourage her and tell her that it will be different that anything she's done before, but she wouldn't be consoled.  Neither of the other girls are looking too enthused either.  Pretty soon Rozzie says, "I want to go to Vegas in December."  What?!  Ah, I know what she thinking after just a moment.  NFR rodeo.  I told her that that timing was impossible and it couldn't work.  Then I offered up Cheyenne in July, and they all bit hard.  Unbelievable.  Thankful, but unbelievable.
          Well, my husband should be home soon, or someone should be home soon.  Maybe I'll go outside and take a peek.  Someone might come home.  Maybe.  I'll go watch for them.  Any of them.

Not your typical angel...

     I read a book by Max Lucado called An Angel's Story several years back.  I loved this book so much that I read it to my kids every Christmas.  I started with my Sunday School kids, my Awana kids, then my own kids at home, and last year I took it to school and read it to three classes of 5th and 6th graders.  This year I plan to read it to the freshmen and the seniors.
     The main character is Gabriel.  The Gabriel.  And the story is a fictional story (based on what we know to be true in the Bible) about how God's plan of sending Jesus to Earth unfolded in Heaven.  In the opening scene God calls Gabriel to the Throne Room to tell him of his plan and Lucifer arrives.  This book is so intense and so full of action and battles and raw emotion.  It would make an amazing feature film on the silver screen.  (Although I'm scared to death of what Hollywood would do to it.)    
     There's a point in the book when Jesus is about to be born and the angels are all in attendance at the stable.  They are speechless to see Jesus as a helpless infant. Then, they are reminded of their orders... 

"at the pounding of the nail you will not save him.  You will watch, you will hear, you will yearn, but you will not rescue."

    Their emotion is gut wrenching.  At this point when reading aloud, my throat constricts and my voice go low and gravel-y.  I have to pause before I can push on through.  I love this book and cannot wait to read it in a couple of weeks.

     Thinking about heavenly angels and then these pathetic earthly things we use to represent angels... beautiful women with long flowing hair or chubby naked babies.. I decided No More Misrepresentation!  So I went on a treasure hunt.  I started with an internet search for angel action figures and found "Angel" from Marvel Comics' X-Men.

      I know nothing about the character "Angel" or the story line in which he plays, but he is exactly what I was looking for in an angel.  I went to eBay and bid on 3 of them, and soon they were shipped to my door.  I gave one to my friend, I took one to school,  
    








and the third one is where every angel is supposed to be at Christmas time....

 on top of my Christmas tree.  He's a wonderful conversation piece.  Many ask, and I love to tell them the story....

They said...

They said.... we teach high school. Parents don't come to parent/teacher conferences.
They said... I get so much done in my room that day.
They said... you might have a couple of parents, but that'll be about it.

Well, they were wrong! I had parents in my room steadily all day. Literally, I was without a break. Some I met for the first time, and others, I have taught their younger children. I smiled and greeted parents, I explained my philosophy, and I listened to parents tell me about their children's strengths and their quirks as well as their needs. At the end of the day, I was exhausted and not prepared for the rest of the week. Not a paper graded or a lesson plan made. Then I went to volleyball games for the rest of the evening and snapped yearbook pictures. Some days, that's how it goes.

I was surprised at how pleased I felt that parents cared enough to come and check out the new English teacher. Just another morsel validating my feelings about my school... things I believed to be true about it... to now, things I know are true about it. I have the support of my students' parents, and they are thankful for me. For me. That's humbling. So many changes in the English classes have been difficult for some of my older students. I am so very different from my predecessor. My strengths are very different and my passions are different. My expectations are different and my temperament is different. I knew it would be an adjustment for everyone, and I knew I would have some stubborn students who would just dig in their heels and resist the change... any change. I also believed that I could win them over in the end. I just keep doing what I do, and slowly and surely, they are falling in line behind me. I don't pretend that every one of them likes me, but I don't care if they like me. I care if they are equipped with the tools they need to be successful in their futures.

The next morning I complained to my colleagues. I told them how popular I was the day before. They whole heartily laughed and told me they had forgotten that I was the new teacher and that parents probably would want to meet me. CBA doesn't have new teachers very often. I can see why they forgot. I'll make a note-to-self to be sure and notify the next new teacher at CBA... whenever that may be.